I’ve always wanted a lever gun besides the 22 I have. I was torn between a 357, 44 rem, 45lc, or a 45/70. Well I stumbled on a to good to pass up marlin 1895GBL 45/70 so I scooped it up. It has a vortex cross fire 3-9x40 on it though which I’ll swap out I’m now torn between a 1-4 or 6, red dot or rocking open sights. I’m gonna start deer hunting again and rifles are now legal where I hunt it used to be shotgun only but they changed that a few years ago. The 45/70 will be a little over kill I think but at same time if a bear ever comes by while out I won’t be under gunned if I went with some of the others. 

   The 45/70 isn't overkill for anything bigger than squirrels. The 1200-1300 fps velocity means that you make a clean hole, unlike high velocity dual-core bullets. It's perfect for deer, especially in woods hunting. That big slug isn't as apt to be deflected by a twig.

   As for a bear, I've found out that if you leave them alone, they'll generally leave you alone. I'd only shoot one as an absolutely last resort. Then again, that's just me.        jj

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

   The 45/70 isn't overkill for anything bigger than squirrels. The 1200-1300 fps velocity means that you make a clean hole, unlike high velocity dual-core bullets. It's perfect for deer, especially in woods hunting. That big slug isn't as apt to be deflected by a twig.

   As for a bear, I've found out that if you leave them alone, they'll generally leave you alone. I'd only shoot one as an absolutely last resort. Then again, that's just me.        jj

Farm fed bear are tasty and now have season here since more are around so if given chance I’m filling that tag since it comes with the big game license automatically. 

1 hour ago, clayton86 said:

   ... now have season here since more are around so if given chance I’m filling that tag since it comes with the big game license automatically. 

   Yeah, I guess I would, too! I had no idea you had a season on bear. The 45/70 will work great for them, too.         jj

Yeah it was only in the southern tier and up north but they have expanded the county’s you can take them in a few years ago. I just put a vortex strike eagle 1-6x24 on it tonight. Probably zero this weekend when I put the thermal on my 243 off the 20practical. Our fox season ends next week so this weekend I’ll get the 243 ready for coyote only nights.  

Nice pickup. Should be fun to shoot. And if you ever find it to just be too much, you can always trade it for something in a cowboy caliber. 

I’m not to worried about the kick and honestly it won’t be much different than a shotgun slug on deer. It will definitely be a fun one. Little pricey to shoot for fun at the range but that’s what my Henry 22 will be handy for fun range shoots with a lever gun.